Friday, March 28, 2014

Suppose you’ve
bought yourself a nice boat for regular periods up and down the coast. The
craft may or may not have their own berth at the marina. However, there will be
times when you want your boat off the water and try your luck in another
location, hence hauling them off on a trailer. The thing is: if you already
have a trailer, you will need a winch to reel in the vessel before you can
transport it anywhere.

The curb weight of
your boat will be a major factor in choosing the proper winch. Some experts
first recommend checking the manuals of the boat, motor, and trailer for each
one’s weight. Add all three weight values and list down the sum in a notebook.
Next, compute for
the additional
weight of gas and other items. Multiply the regular weight of gas per gallon–
at 6.25 pounds– times the fuel tank volume, then add around 50 pounds worth of
equipment.

Add up the weight
of the first computation and the second, then divide them by two. The result is
the minimum weight capacity of the winch you need. Run the capacity by your
boat parts seller so they can present you with some choice winches. Buy a new
winch strap and some tie-downs to lock the boat on the trailer while in
transit.

Monday, March 17, 2014

You
find towing your boat to and from the water a hassle. You ask yourself, “Why
can’t I just leave my boat at a marina or something?” You just asked yourself a
good question.

Before
anything else, keep in mind this article isn’t trying to persuade you to get a boat trailer. You, the boat owner, always have
the final say. However, it should be obvious that a trailer is less costly than
paying rent at a marina. If you can afford to keep your boat in one of several
marinas in Louisiana, then by all means, do it.

Marinas
charge on a monthly basis based on the size of the boat; obviously, the bigger
the boat, the bigger the slip fee. In northern California, the cost can reach
around hundreds, even for the smallest boat. Also, marinas stick to their rules
as tight as barnacles on a boat’s hull. You could only use your boat under
certain conditions.

Boat
trailers may cost more, but at least it’s a one-time investment; one full
payment and it’s all yours for as long as you need it. Even if you and the
seller agree on a monthly installment, the cost is much lower than a month in
the marina. Towing trailers may require more careful driving, but buying the
right parts will make sure your boat stays put during the trip.

Monday, March 10, 2014

The looming spring and summer are
ideal seasons for out-of-town family vacations. Before packing up and
traveling, make sure that you’ve thoroughly inspected your vehicle and trailer
for mechanical issues that might affect your journey. You surely don’t want to
ruin your vacation by a broken trailer wheel while on your way to the beach.
Here’s how to know if your trailer wheel bearings need to be replaced.

A trailer wheel bearing is not visible
as the majority of its components are concealed within the metal housing.
Therefore, you won’t easily find damage that tells you it should be replaced
right away. Instead, you can check what’s visible—the wheel itself. If you find
that some tires have an uncommon wear, it probably means the bearings are
broken or poorly installed.

Dust and
debris
may little by little enter the bearing and affect the rotation of the balls
that keep the wheel’s turn smooth. Such a concern can spell disaster as it may
increase the friction formed between the rotating wheels and the bearings. This
is the most likely problem if you start hearing unusual noise in the wheel as
the trailer starts moving.

Jack up the trailer and remove the
wheels to access the trailer wheel hubs where the bearings are. Get rid of
debris and make sure it’s well greased before you put it back. Try towing it
and if the unusual noise disappears, it means the trailer is ready to take a
long journey without breaking down on the road.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Brakes
are one of the most essential parts of trailers and failing to have an
effective braking system may cause all kinds of troubles on the road, which may
even lead to fatal accidents. If you are planning to install electrical brakes
on your trailer, there are vital trailer brake
parts that you need to purchase in order to ensure that your brakes will work
once you step on that pedal. Here are four must haves:

Mounting
flanges – these items should be attached on your trailer's axle, right
behind the existing hub assembly. Generally, most axles already have these
installed, but in case yours do not have them, you can purchase a
square-shaped, 4-bolt pattern flange, which is one of the more popular
choices available.

Trailer hub and drum assemblies – when
shopping for these assemblies, you must look for the ones that are
compatible with the spindles of your trailer. One of the best ways to be
guided accordingly is to look at your existing bearings and seals and find
the stamped numbers.

Trailer
brake assemblies – when searching for these, all you need to remember is
to find something that will match your flanges, and fit the hub and drum
assemblies.

Controls and wiring – when everything is
already set up, you can now install the brake controller, along with the
proper wiring necessary for your brakes to work.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

There are probably about as
many different boat trailer winches as there are boats or trailers, so
narrowing down your choices isn’t always the easiest thing to do. However,
considering a few factors, finding the right boat trailer winch doesn’t have to
be so complicated.

Capacity

Weight capacity is the first
thing you will need to consider when choosing a winch. The capacity of the
winch you buy should be at least three-fourths the combined weight of your boat
and motor, fully loaded with gear and fuel.

In addition, there are other
things you will need to factor in that can increase the capacity requirements
for a winch. These include, steeper launch ramps, a trailer that uses wood
bunks instead of rollers, as well as how far into the water you can go to
launch the boat.

Power

A single-speed winch is
suitable for lighter boats like dinghies, catamarans, and inflatables. A
two-speed winch, on the other hand, can be used for boats that are any heavier
than that. For truly big boats, an electric winch with higher gear ratios may
be required.

Brake

While most boats can be
launched safely by letting them slide freely off the trailer and into the
water, bigger boats will require a boat trailer winch with some form of braking
system. This should allow you to launch the boat into the water at a safe
speed.

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About Us

Champion Trailers is a widely known, respected trailer parts and repair company located in Slidell, Louisiana. We are recognized for providing high quality product at prices all customers can afford. Our inventory is consists of all types of parts for boat, utility, enclosed, and some RV trailers. In addition to part sales we provide service, repairs, and modifications to all types of light to heavy duty trailers.